Thomas Finney and Daniel French launched into their victim, who was described as virtually blind at night-time, after they saw him visit a cash machine

Thomas Finney, left, and Daniel French were both jailed for attacking a visually impaired man

Two friends attacked and robbed a visually impaired man as he made his way home after a night out in Reading.

Thomas Finney, 20, and Daniel French, 25, launched into their victim, who was described as virtually blind at night-time, after they saw him visit a cash machine.

They were both jailed at Reading Crown Court on Friday, despite appeals from family and friends who said the alcohol-fuelled attack was completely out of character.

The court heard victim Niall Williamson, a personal trainer, suffers from an eye condition which means his vision is significantly impaired in the dark and that Finney knew him and was aware of his condition.

Mr Williamson had been out in Reading on November 4, last year, and was heading home to Pangbourne.

He went to a cash machine to check his bank balance when he arrived in the village at about 11.30pm and was crossing Whitchurch Road when he heard two male voices behind him.

Robert Forrest, prosecuting, told the court: “He crossed the road and took his mobile phone out of his pocket and then suddenly someone jumped on his back and his phone fell out of his hand.

“Mr Williamson stayed on his feet and the person who jumped on him clawed at his face and pulled at his hooded top. He thought the attacker wanted to get him to the ground, but he managed to pin his attacker down.”

The attacker then referred to his victim by his first name, which the prosecution said means it must have been Finney.

The court heard Mr Williamson told the two men to back off and explained he was visually impaired.

However, French demanded he empty his pockets and one of the men was heard to say they had a knife on them. Mr Williamson threw £15 onto the ground. The men then told their victim to run home and then taunted him by insisting he run faster.

Mr Williamson called the police when he arrived home. They checked CCTV pictures which identified French and Finney and they were both found at the railway station and arrested.

French gave no comment in interview, but was convicted by a jury after a trial in June.

Finney gave a prepared statement saying he had been drinking and could not remember what happened, but pleaded guilty at a later court hearing.

Peter Hunter, defending French, described his client as a hard working young man who had no previous convictions and who had described the incident as an appalling act which should never have happened.

Clare Evans, defending Finney, said she believed her client, of previous good character, was so drunk he genuinely could not remember what had happened.

She said: “He knew Mr Williamson, played football with him and lived in the same village.

“He finds it almost impossible to accept this happened.”

But Judge John Reddihough said: “Far too many incidents like this are taking place in the streets at nighttime where innocent members of the public are set upon by people like you.” He added: “In my judgement, there is no question at all of any custodial sentence being suspended in this case.”

Judge Reddihough jailed French for two years and said he believed Finney’s involvement was the most serious, but as he had pleaded guilty he handed him a 22-month prison sentence.

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